trailer brakes GMC CANYON 2018 Owner's Manual

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Instruments and Controls 131
Battery Voltage :Displays the
current battery voltage, if equipped.
Battery voltage changes are normal
while driving. See Charging System
Light 0120. If there is a problem
with the battery charging system,
the DIC will display a message.
Engine Hours : Shows the total
number of hours the engine has run.
Transmission Fluid
Temperature : Shows the
temperature of the automatic
transmission fluid in either degrees
Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Trailer Brake (If Equipped) :
TRAILER GAIN shows the trailer
gain setting. This setting can be
adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0 with either
a trailer connected or disconnected.
OUTPUT shows the power output to
the trailer anytime a trailer with
electric brakes is connected. Output
is displayed as a bar graph. Dashes
may appear in the OUTPUT display
if a trailer is not connected. Units :
Movew xto change
between Metric or US when the Unit
display is active. Press SET/CLR to
confirm the setting. This will change
the displays on the DIC to the type
of measurements you select.
ECO Drive Assist Menu (ECO)
Items
This menu is only available on some
vehicles. Press MENU on the turn
signal lever until the ECO menu is
displayed. Use
w xto scroll
through the menu items. Not all
items are available on every vehicle.
The following is a list of all possible
menu items:
Best Average Fuel Economy : The
bottom displays the best average
fuel economy (AFE) that is achieved
for a selected distance. The top
displays a running average of fuel
economy for the most recently
traveled selected distance. The
center bar graph displays the
instantaneous fuel economy.
Quickly press the SET/CLR button
to change the settings for the
distance options. When viewing best AFE, a several
second press and hold of SET/CLR
will reset the best value. The best
value will show
“- - -“until the
selected distance has been
traveled.
The display provides feedback on
how current driving behavior in the
bar graph affects the running
average in the top display and how
well recent driving compares to the
best that has been achieved.Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Uplevel)
The DIC displays are shown in the
center of the instrument cluster in
the Info app.
See Instrument Cluster (Uplevel)
0 112 orInstrument Cluster (Base
Level) 0115. The displays show the
status of many vehicle systems. The
controls for the DIC are on the right
steering wheel control.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
134 Instruments and Controls
Presspto select the distance or
reset best value. Use
wandxto
choose the distance and press
V.
Press
wandxto select “Reset
Best Score.” Press
Vto reset the
best average fuel economy. After
reset, the best value displays “-,-”
until the selected distance has been
traveled.
The display provides information on
how current driving behavior affects
the running average and how well
recent driving compares to the best
that has been achieved for the
selected distance.
Timer : This display can be used as
a timer. To start the timer, press
V
while this display is active. The
display will show the amount of time
that has passed since the timer was
last reset. To stop the timer, press
V
briefly while this display is active
and the timer is running. To reset
the timer to zero, press and hold
V
while this display is active, or presspand select reset. Speed Limit :
Shows sign
information, which comes from a
roadway database in the onboard
navigation, if equipped.
Battery Voltage : Displays the
current battery voltage, if equipped.
Battery voltage changes are normal
while driving. See Charging System
Light 0120. If there is a problem
with the battery charging system,
the DIC will display a message.
Oil Pressure : Oil pressure is
displayed in either kilopascal (kPa)
or in pounds per square inch (psi).
Engine Hours : Shows the total
number of hours the engine has run.
Transmission Fluid
Temperature : Shows the
temperature of the automatic
transmission fluid in either degrees
Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Trailer Brake (If Equipped) :
TRAILER GAIN shows the trailer
gain setting. This setting can be
adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0 with either
a trailer connected or disconnected. OUTPUT shows the power output to
the trailer anytime a trailer with
electric brakes is connected. Output
is displayed as a bar graph. Dashes
may appear in the OUTPUT display
if a trailer is not connected.
Blank Page :
Shows no
information.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
198 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 207
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 208
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 210
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 217
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 225
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 230
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 241
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 243
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . 244
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Driver Assistance Systems
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 247
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 253
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 268

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Driving and Operating 227
D (Drive) can be used when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load,
driving on steep hills, or driving
off-road. Shift the transmission to a
lower gear range selection if the
transmission shifts too often. See
Manual Mode0228.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”under
Loss of Control 0202.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization
feature that adjusts the transmission
shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid
upshifts and downshifts. This shift
stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an
upshift, if the engine is able to
maintain vehicle speed by analyzing
things such as vehicle speed,
throttle position, and vehicle load.
If the shift stabilization feature
determines that a current vehicle
speed cannot be maintained, the
transmission does not upshift and
instead holds the current gear. In some cases, this could appear to
be a delayed shift, however the
transmission is operating normally.
The transmission uses adaptive
shift controls. The adaptive shift
control process continually
compares key shift parameters to
pre-programmed ideal shifts stored
in the transmission’s computer. The
transmission constantly makes
adjustments to improve vehicle
performance according to how the
vehicle is being used, such as with
a heavy load or when the
temperature changes. During this
adaptive shift control process,
shifting might feel different as the
transmission determines the best
settings.
When temperatures are very cold,
the transmission's gear shifting
could be delayed providing more
stable shifts until the engine warms
up. Shifts could be more noticeable
with a cold transmission. This
difference in shifting is normal.
L :
This position allows selection of
a range of gears appropriate for
current driving conditions. See
Manual Mode 0228.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If the vehicle
is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.
Normal Mode Grade Braking
Normal Mode Grade Braking is
enabled when the vehicle is started,
but is not enabled in Range
Selection Mode. It assists in
maintaining desired vehicle speeds
when driving on downhill grades by
using the engine and transmission
to slow the vehicle.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
240 Driving and Operating
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You may hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate. This is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake
Set the parking brake by holding the
regular brake pedal down, then
pushing down the parking brake
pedal.
If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
SeeBrake System Warning Light
0 122.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
To release the parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal down, then
push down momentarily on the
parking brake pedal until you feel
the pedal release. Slowly pull your
foot up off the parking brake pedal.
If the parking brake is not released
when you begin to drive, the brake system warning light will flash and a
chime will sound warning you that
the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on a hill, see
Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 256.
Brake Assist
The Brake Assist feature is
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal as

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Driving and Operating 257
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance. If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear
before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
The Tow/Haul Mode may be used if
the transmission shifts too often.
See Tow/Haul Mode 0230.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
258 Driving and Operating
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few
minutes before turning the engine
off. If the overheat warning comes
on, seeEngine Overheating 0288.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill. 2. Have someone place chocks
under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular
brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
7. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Maintenance Schedule 0361.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Towing
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
See New Vehicle Break-In 0217.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Driving and Operating 259
{Warning
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy
or the trailer brakes are
inadequate for the load, the
vehicle may not stop as expected.
The driver and passengers could
be seriously injured. The vehicle
may also be damaged; the
resulting repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Pull a trailer only if all the steps in
this section have been followed.
Ask your dealer for advice and
information about towing a trailer
with the vehicle.
See Vehicle Load Limits 0211 for
more information about the vehicle's
maximum load capacity.
To identify the trailering capacity of
the vehicle, read the information in
“Weight of the Trailer” later in this
section. Trailering is different than just
driving the vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips
and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer.
Weight of the Trailer
Safe trailering requires monitoring
the weight, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature, the
dimensions of the front of the trailer,
and how frequently the vehicle is
used to pull a trailer. Take into
consideration any special equipment
on the vehicle, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry.
See
“Weight of the Trailer Tongue”
later in this section for more
information. Trailer weight rating (TWR) is
calculated assuming the tow vehicle
has the driver, a front seat
passenger, and all required trailering
equipment. Weight of additional
optional equipment, passengers,
and cargo in the tow vehicle must
be subtracted from the trailer weight
rating.
Use the following chart to determine
how much the vehicle can weigh,
based upon the vehicle model and
options.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
262 Driving and Operating
1. Front of Vehicle
2. Body to Ground Distance
When using a weight-distributing
hitch, measure distance (2) before
coupling the trailer to the hitch ball.
Measure the height again after the
trailer is coupled and adjust the
spring bars so the distance (2) is as
close as possible to halfway
between the two measurements.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue
from contacting the road if itbecomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains
may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer. Always leave just
enough slack so the combination
can turn. Never allow safety chains
to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more
than 900 kg (2,000 lb) must be
equipped with its own brake system,
with brakes working on all axles.
Trailer braking equipment
conforming to Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent, is
recommended.
State and local regulations may also
require the trailer to have its own
braking system if loaded above a
certain threshold. These
requirements vary from state to
state.
Read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes so they are
installed, adjusted, and maintained
properly.
Do not tap into the vehicle's
hydraulic brake system
Trailer Wiring Harness
For vehicles not equipped with
heavy-duty trailering, a harness is
secured underneath the left side of
the vehicle, next to the spare tire.
The harness requires the installation
of a trailer connector, which is
available through your dealer. The
seven-wire harness contains the
following trailer circuits:
.
Yellow: Left stop/turn signal
. Green: Right stop/turn signal
. Brown: Taillamps/parking lamps
. Black: Ground
. Gray: Back-up lamps
. Orange: Battery feed
. Blue: Trailer brake
To help charge a remote
(non-vehicle) battery, press the Tow/
Haul Mode button on the center
stack. If the trailer is too light for

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
264 Driving and Operating
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
when lightly loaded or with no trailer
at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may result
in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
the Tow/Haul button activates the
exhaust brake system
simultaneously. See“Exhaust
Brake” in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Integrated Trailer Brake
Control System
The vehicle may have an Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system
for use with electric trailer brakes or
most electric over hydraulic trailer
brakes.
This symbol is on the Trailer Brake
Control Panel on vehicles with an
ITBC system. The power output to
the trailer brakes is based on the
amount of brake pressure being
applied by the vehicle’s brake
system, and on the type of trailer
brakes detected. This available
power output to the trailer brakes
can be adjusted to a wide range of
trailering situations.
The ITBC system is integrated with
the vehicle’ s brake, antilock brake,
and StabiliTrak systems. In trailering
conditions that cause the vehicle’s
antilock brake or StabiliTrak
systems to activate, power sent to
the trailer's brakes will be
automatically adjusted to minimize
trailer wheel lock-up. This does not
imply that the trailer has StabiliTrak. If the vehicle’s brake, antilock brake,
or StabiliTrak systems are not
functioning properly, the ITBC
system may not be fully functional
or may not function at all. Make sure
all of these systems are fully
operational to ensure full
functionality of the ITBC system.
The ITBC system is powered
through the vehicle's electrical
system. Turning the ignition off will
also turn off the ITBC system. The
ITBC system is fully functional only
when the ignition is in ON/RUN.
{Warning
Connecting a trailer that has an
air brake system may result in
reduced or complete loss of trailer
braking. There may be an
increase in stopping distance or
trailer instability which could
result in personal injury or
damage to the vehicle, trailer,
or other property. Use the ITBC
(Continued)